Cash and carry rise

WHOLESALER Booker has reported a 9pc rise in profits and confirmed that its £3.7bn merger with tesco is still set to close by early 2018.

the group released interim results showing that profit jumped to £88m in the 24 weeks to September 8, though total sales grew only 2.5pc to £2.6bn. Reve- nues were hit in part by a 9pc drop in tobacco sales after shops were forced to stop displaying products.

Non- tobacco sales rose 7.5pc, helping to offset the decline. Booker made ‘good progress’ in catering and retail, with like-forlike sales rising 8.1pc and 0.6pc respectively.